What Type of Electric Vehicles Are There?

Electric Vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular across the country, and there are several options available to buyers. Below, we've summarized some of the most common types.

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

When people talk about EVs, they usually mean Battery Electric Vehicles. These vehicles rely entirely on electricity from a rechargeable battery pack and do not use a gasoline engine. BEVs are considered zero-emission vehicles because they don't produce the harmful tailpipe emissions or air pollution that traditional gas-powered vehicles do.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)

Hybrid Electric Vehicles use both a gas-powered engine and an electric motor. The battery can be charged through regenerative braking, which captures energy that's usually lost as heat during braking and repurposes it to assist the gasoline engine during acceleration.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles also use both an engine and an electric motor. Like traditional hybrids, they can partially recharge their battery through regenerative braking. However, PHEVs have a larger battery and can be plugged into a grid to recharge. They can travel for several dozen miles before the gas engine kicks in, and once the all-electric range is depleted, they function like regular hybrids and can travel on gasoline.